The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-04-14
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER xxxII.

Some little way walked with no f,xsd
plan. The sudden hope inspired by the
prospect Of action aoon waned and expired.
Was the form had seen at the window
indeed Mary Fortescuel II encountered
the Basilisk 1t her ten o'clock rendezvous,
should be any nearer the realization Of
my hopesi At least could trace her move
ments, and SO possibly get . clue TO tho
place where she had taken Mary. IL it should
prove not to be the house where she had
made the appointment with the hideous old
woman. Taking turn to the right found
myself upon : small bridge, which spanned
dark narrow canal bordered with high
houses, sparsely lit here and there by fam
tasticaIly disposed patches OF dim lamp
lights; here prol ,nged in irregular lines on
the dark water, where Q window In the
lowest story almost met the surface Of tho
canal; there set like bleared eye In tho
middle Of q towering gable; xigzagging
along on the levels OF tho various storys,
with frequent gaps Of utter darkness. A
the still freshening wind came sweeping
along in strong gusts, ! could hear the
water tapping at the Shiny walls, clammily
panderlhg to secret crime, and solicitous
for the custody Of corpses. There was In
the middle of the parapet Of the bridge ,
lamp, which fiickered and hared in the
gusts Of wind. By its light Icould 80 that
the dark mysterious object by the marrow
wharf, close to the bridge, was . long mar.
row barge. At the foot Of the slippery
looking steps, which went down from
the bridge to the wharf
wherry. The clouds, which were fast piling
up before the wind, had now hidden the
moon, but the still varying denseness Of
their folds caused q constant heaving or
the darkness, like the struggling respira-
tons OF nightmare. The influence OF the
scene was weird and oppressive. II might
be that these tall, silent houses were the
homes of simple honest folk; that in those
dimly lighted rooms the children Of toll
were contentedly enjoying their humble
evening meal: that the wicked looking
weter was wholesome byway Of honest
industry. But looked up the long rows
Of darkling houses and lnew THAT in one
of them the wiles of Basilisk were ut work !;
that there, in all likelihood Mary was Inn
INJURED; and the remembrance Of the tall
dark figure Of her worst foe, and the cring.
ing crone who was evidently entirely a.
that foes disposal, banished any cheerful
ideas, and touched the scene with the pen.
Gil of Dore, as it drew the weird fantasies
Balxac.
The aspect Of the watery way from the
bridge became so sinister that returned
TO reconnoitre the house once more from
the street. To this impulse ! owe, In all
probability. the rescue Of Mary, the preser-
walton OF what was dearer to me than Lie
itself.
The street was very silent and deserted,
though it was yet quite early. A few peo-
pie passed me, their sabOts making an In
ordinate CHATTER on the rough stones; but
when paused close to the house there was
no Que In sight. looked up. The light waa
still III the topmost window; the window
was again open. determined to make
IN attempt at least to settle my doubts
IS to the identity Of the occupant Of that
room.
Hooked up to the window, and called
softly and clearly:
.sMaryvn
There was no response.
Again Icalled, with . little more emphar
dis:
s.Mary"
It was not fancy. No. At my second
call figure came rapidly to the window,
but ere could either hear or utter any.
doorway broke the stiffness.
..Histl Monsieur Plowitzp
1t was the old woman.
ssWho is that" asked.
s.It is Marie Delbruyck."
do you know who amr asked, ap
preaching the door.
The old woman grinned and c0urtesied
II have been expecting Monsieur Pl0witx
she said.
She evidently took me for tho man Oh,
had been told to expect. Tumultu0uS q
my thoughts were, could see no reason
for suspecting q ''plant" 50 skilfully oxocu
ted, under circumstances which were pure
Of fighting the Basilisk into my hands, and
lresolved to make the most oft.
.sWhere is the ladyi' l asked.
(which lady, monsieuri" shs asked viii
. horrible grin.
ssThe tall lady,
'.Mademoiselle Beaufoyr'
ayes; MademOiselle Beaufoy."
ssHas not monsieur seen herl"
mo; must see her.
s.She said she must see monsieur, but shl
has lief: message tor monsieur in case CHI
missed him"
..And the other lady-is she safea,
'.Quite safe. She j. in the top room
locked in"
..Good,' said I.
1t was awful to think of Mary imprisoned
In the power OF such wretches. We ha(
moved out OF the street, and were standing
just inside the little entrance court. Az WI
talked could hear the rough murmurinl
tones Of mans voice, and the shriller IN
tonation Of . woman in conversation insid,
the house
NOW, Marie went on, "you must Civ,
me the message quickly, for ! must hn'
mademoiselle at Once.n
The old bag came closer to me, and laid
finger on my arm, giving . sort Of . dil
now and then to impress the points Of he
message upon me.
aAli will be ready at ton O'Clock. 70,
must meet mademoiselle here ut ten. Tn
lady will be put into the boat. 1t II m,
sons boat-Georges, there; you may hea
him talking-and he will take monsieur an
the lady down tho river, and put them O
board the ship"
But" said I, almost gasping for breath
chow II the lady will not comet"
s.Ah. monsieur said Madame Delbruyc
with diabolical leer' s'she will not kno,
anything .!Hnng,, about itr'
'.She might make . disturbances; but "
use"-here she made a significant gestur
and grinned ghoulishly.
.'And then!"
"And then monsieur and my son George
will carry her down ami put her in u
boat. 1t is close by, on the canal. Throug
that door and through the woodshed tbs
Is the canal.n
was SO Mortified by the disclosure Of TIL
diaholical scheme that, after Q moment
silence, judged 1t prudent to assume .
air of suspicion.
'.very WELL said. "But Georges-is b
to he trustedf
..Oh, monsieur. said Mdme. Delbruycl
lifting her hands in depreciation, I've ~
honest folks here, and Mdlle. Bsaufoy b
paid us handsomely"
"Well. you shall be paid still more hant
oomely when the young lady Is safe"
Have no fear, monsieur"
'sNo; but / am anxious; and ] shout
like to see Mdlle. Beaufoy again. She wi
be here at tent"
ssCertainly, monsieur-at ten.n
gave the old woman Q piece Of none.
which she received, to my surprise, wit
some show Of reluctance, as though, in b
way, she had some idea Of fair dealing
and, having made bargain, was prepare
to abide by the terms she had proposed {
accented: and, with profuse thanks, q
ushered me at once into the street.
A bri, walk of ten or twelve minutes d
ahlea ne tn recover frOi" the asfonndin
revelation OF viIlainy OF which had .
strangely become possessed. found my
self once more in . cheerful, well-lighte
street. entered quiet but inviting rel
taurant, and dined frugally. Then, wit
the aid Of cigar, Reviewed the situation
The revelation OF the plot by Ndme De